The trials and tribulations of Glen Gulutzan

[Ryan Coke]

Yup, I’m fine with Tippett. Both because I think he could do good things with the talent here, but also because I can’t imagine he’d be worse than GG.

[Kovaz]

Starting to believe this is just who we are under Gulutzan.

Last year we were:

• Below average at 5v5 (-10 goal differential)
• Above average on the PP (~14th in shot rates and goal rates)
• Above average on the PK (~10th in shot rates and goal rates)
• Average overall in regulation (32-33 record)
• Dominant in OT/SO (13-4)

This year we are:

• Average at 5v5 (+0 goal differential)
• Above average on the PP (~12 in shot rates and goal rates)
• Brutal on the PK (~25th in shot rates and goal rates)
• Below average overall in regulation (8-12 record)
• Dominant in OT/SO (6-1)

The overall performance isn't all that different from last year: a very mediocre team at 5v5 that relies on good special teams and having the best 3v3 player on the planet to eke out a passable record.

There's no way this roster should be this mediocre. I'm not sold on Tippett, since his teams have been very consistently low-event teams, which supports the trap criticism, but at least he might be able to get the 2nd pair to play some reasonable defense. I'd rather try Sutter again given the choice.

[Pointman]

Originally Posted by colbym72

We can't expect perfection from everyone. Sutter left the prospect cupboard dry. There was nothing when he left. He wasn't a good GM post-lockout

Our cupboard featured Brodie and Ferland. They just were not supposed to become this good, hence the cupboard was mistakenly perceived as "dry". That team also featured young Giordano, whose potential was seriously underrated as well.

[ComixZone]

Yeah, can’t understand the desire for Ruff or Tippett. Neither are very good coaches.

This team needs leadership, and go back and listen to guys talk about the team under Darryl Sutter - he set the tone. He was the leader. He’s also won two Stanley Cups in the “new” NHL in recent years. Sure, he may have a shelf life associated with him - but Tree has set this first window of opportunity to win as this season and next season - and I can’t think of a better head coach to drive a team hard for the next 2 years than Darryl Sutter.

It’s Darryl Sutter or bust, as far as I’m concerned. That’s who I want.

[Azhouse]

Anything would be an improvement over Gulutzan at this point. I would rather see boring wins and playoffs than whatever our current coach is serving up as a game plan.

[kukkudo]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Yeah, can’t understand the desire for Ruff or Tippett. Neither are very good coaches.

This team needs leadership, and go back and listen to guys talk about the team under Darryl Sutter - he set the tone. He was the leader. He’s also won two Stanley Cups in the “new” NHL in recent years. Sure, he may have a shelf life associated with him - but Tree has set this first window of opportunity to win as this season and next season - and I can’t think of a better head coach to drive a team hard for the next 2 years than Darryl Sutter.

It’s Darryl Sutter or bust, as far as I’m concerned. That’s who I want.

I see three options

1) Sutter
2) Tippett
3) Cameron (Interim Coach)

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Azhouse

Anything would be an improvement over Gulutzan at this point. I would rather see boring wins and playoffs than whatever our current coach is serving up as a game plan.

Bring in Tippett and you get boring losses and no playoffs for sure. That is worse than GG.

[Azhouse]

I would give my left nut for a little cohesion on D (maybe not).

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by kukkudo

I see three options

1) Sutter
2) Tippett
3) Cameron (Interim Coach)

If #2 or #3 happen you can call this season Finished

[Erick Estrada]

Tippett's actually a pretty good coach. He was in Arizona far too long as every coach has a shelf life but I have no doubt he could turn this team around and I don't think it would be boring hockey. People tend to forget he had two 50+ win seasons in Dallas and averaged 45 wins a season over his six seasons there. Hell he had a 50 win season in Phoenix. That's right a 50 win season for the Coyotes. Anyone here go look up the last time the Flames won 50 games in a season. Really go look. Amazing how many people here have such short memories and as good as Darryl Sutter has been he's never coaches a team to a 50 win season so Tippett isn't exactly chopped liver.

[Toonage]

Kind of mad this morning that the guys on 960 took the players to task but not so much the coaches. They weren't wrong, leadership seems non existent, but this problem falls at the feet of the coaching staff.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Dave Tippett? Mother of God, no...

people think it's boring now? Just wait for Dave Tippett...

Tippett is boring. He's also a guy Treliving knows well. And if Treliving is going to replace the coach mid-season, I think it is very likely that he goes with someone he knows.

Honestly though, I'll happily take boring over whatever the hell this homestand was. Give me a boring, defensively responsible coach over Dallas Eakins-lite any time. Would rather have Sutter personally, however.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Kind of mad this morning that the guys on 960 took the players to task but not so much the coaches. They weren't wrong, leadership seems non existent, but this problem falls at the feet of the coaching staff.

Really when's the last time 960 has got involved in putting any coach on the hot seat? They didn't with Gulutzan this time last season, didn't with Hartley, Brent, Keenan, etc. I imagine that they have been given defined limits to what they can criticize and the organization doesn't want them getting involved with sparking up the coach firing discussion.

[Resolute 14]

They went after Gulutzan a little bit after really firing on Brouwer. But relative to the hate for Brouwer, their commentary on Gulutzan was rather timid.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Really when's the last time 960 has got involved in putting any coach on the hot seat? They didn't with Gulutzan this time last season, didn't with Hartley, Brent, Keenan, etc. I imagine that they have been given defined limits to what they can criticize and the organization doesn't want them getting involved with sparking up the coach firing discussion.

You're probably right, which is disappointing. I was wondering this last night. When is the Calgary media going to pick up on this? Are they going to pick up on this? Fan discontent is reaching critical mass, at some point the question has to be asked doesn't it? Even Francis hasn't approached the subject to the best of my knowledge.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Tippett is boring. He's also a guy Treliving knows well. And if Treliving is going to replace the coach mid-season, I think it is very likely that he goes with someone he knows.

Honestly though, I'll happily take boring over whatever the hell this homestand was. Give me a boring, defensively responsible coach over Dallas Eakins-lite any time.

Really if there's anything that guys like Eakins and Gulutzan have proven it's that coaches that rely on out of the box thinking and advanced stats still need to have the leadership intangibles require to lead men and it's clear neither of those guys command the respect needed to get a team to buy into their concept.

[killer_carlson]

can someone give details on what they said about brouwer?

[Infinit47]

If the Flames lose the next two games and don't fire GG I think it's a clear sign the organization has given up on the season.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

can someone give details on what they said about brouwer?

Warrener just now said; "Is there any other team in the league that has a player with zero goals on their top powerplay?".

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

can someone give details on what they said about brouwer?

These were Brouwer's comments:



He tried to talk up the first period, and then glossed over the rest, pretty much as little more than bad luck. He added that they just needed to keep working hard. All in a dull, flat, monotone voice.

The Fan 960 guys went after him for the "working hard" part especially. Warrener flat out called him a liar, pointing to the Edmonton and especially Toronto games. Boomer wen't after him for his defeatist attitude. Mentioned that Tkachuk was absolutely fuming after the game, but Brouwer's comments came across as "meh". Lack of passion, lack of leadership.